About the Society

The objective of the Psychonomic Society is to promote the communication of scientific research in psychology and allied sciences. It achieves this goal through two main mechanisms: (1) an annual meeting devoted to the presentation of scientific papers and (2) the publication of scholarly journals in a variety of domains relating to cognition.

The Psychonomic Society is a member of the Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences.

History
About the Membership
Governing Board and Officers
Advocacy and Affiliations
Bylaws of The Psychonomic Society, Inc.

History

The Psychonomic Society was founded by a group of experimental psychologists during a meeting in Chicago, Illinois, in December 1959. The main goal was to create a society that would support open communication about psychological science with minimal structure. An interesting article about the Society's inception and history can be found in Dewsbury, D. A., & Bolles, R. C. (1995). The founding of the Psychonomic Society. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 2, 216-233.

About the Membership

The Society currently consists of approximately 2,000 members and 650 associate members. To be eligible for membership, a person must hold the Ph.D. degree or equivalent, and must have published significant psychological research beyond the doctoral dissertation.

Typically a successful candidate will be at least two years post-Ph.D. and will have at least four research publications in high-quality refereed journals after the date of the Ph.D. Furthermore, at least two of the publications will be first-authored and at least three will be based on research subsequent to the Ph.D.

Candidates for membership must be nominated by a member of the Society and elected by the Membership Committee of the Governing Board. These selections are made twice a year. To be eligible for Associate membership, a person must hold the Ph.D. degree or equivalent and must be nominated by a member of the Society. To join, go to Membership.

Governing Board and Officers

Governing Board (2012)

  • Jeffrey M. Zacks, Washington University (2008-2013, Chair)

  • R. Reed Hunt, University of Texas, San Antonio (2008-2013, Past-Chair)
  • Helene Intraub, University of Delaware (2009-2014, Chair-Elect)
  • D. Stephen Lindsay, University of Victoria (2007-2012)
  • Robert M. Nosofsky, Indiana University (2007-2012)

  • Michael C. Anderson, University of St Andrews (2009-2014)
  • Colin M. MacLeod, University of Waterloo (2010-2015)
  • Jeremy M. Wolfe, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School (2010-2015)

  • Cathleen Moore, University of Iowa (2011-2016)
  • Lynne Reder, Carnegie-Mellon University (2011-2016)
  • Robert Logie, University of Edinburgh (2012-2017)
  • Janet Metcalfe, Columbia University (2012-2017)

Officers (2012)

  • Jeffrey M. Zacks, Washington University (2008-2013, Chair)

  • R. Reed Hunt, University of Texas, San Antonio (2008-2013, Past-Chair)
  • Ruth Maki, University of Arizona (2011-2013, Secretary/Treasurer)
  • Andy Conway, Princeton University (2012-2017, Convention Manager)

Audit Committee (2012)

  • Cathleen Moore, University of Iowa (Chair)
  • Helene Intraub, University of Delaware

  • Janet Metcalfe, Columbia University


Ethics Committee (2012)

  • D. Stephen Lindsay, University of Victoria (Chair)

  • R. Reed Hunt, University of Texas, San Antonio
  • Robert Logie, University of Edinburgh

Finance Committee (2012)

  • Lynne Reder, Carnegie-Mellon University (Chair)
  • Janet Metcalfe, Columbia University
  • James Pomerantz, Rice University
  • Jeffrey M. Zacks, Washington University (ex officio)
  • Ruth Maki, University of Arizona (ex officio)
  • Colin MacLeod, University of Waterloo (ex officio)

International Committee (2012)

  • Michael C. Anderson, University of St Andrews (Chair)
  • Colin MacLeod, University of Waterloo
  • Teresa Bajo, Universidad de Granada

Membership Committee (2012)

  • Jeremy M. Wolfe, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School (Chair)
  • Michael C. Anderson, University of St Andrews
  • Robert M. Nosofsky, Indiana University
  • Lynne Reder, Carnegie-Mellon University

Program Committee (2012)

  • Robert M. Nosofsky, Indiana University (Chair)
  • Lynne Reder, Carnegie-Mellon University
  • Jeremy M. Wolfe, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
  • Andy Conway, Princeton University

Publications Committee (2012)

  • Colin MacLeod, University of Waterloo (Chair)
  • D. Stephen Lindsay, University of Victoria
  • Robert Logie, University of Edinburgh

Strategic Planning Committee (2012)

  • Helene Intraub, University of Delaware (Chair)
  • R. Reed Hunt, University of Texas, San Antonio
  • Robert Logie, University of Edinburgh
  • Cathleen Moore, University of Iowa
  • Katherine Rawson, Kent State University
  • Steve Yantis, Johns Hopkins University

Liaisons to the Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences (FABBS) (2012)

  • Janet Metcalfe, Columbia University
  • Howard Egeth, Johns Hopkins University

Advocacy and Affiliations

The Governing Board maintains associations with organizations that seek to promote the advancement of behavioral research, serving as representatives to the Council of Scientific Society Presidents and the Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences. Through these associations, the Society is represented in political lobbying efforts and is able to contribute to the shaping of the national scientific research agenda.

Bylaws of The Psychonomic Society, Inc.

(As last amended November 2008)

ARTICLE I: NAME AND OBJECT

  1. The name of the Society is The Psychonomic Society, Inc.
  2. The object of the Society is to promote the communication of scientific research in psychology and allied sciences.

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP

  1. The Society shall have one class of membership, with the exception of Associate, which is described in Article II, Section 4.
  2. Members shall be persons qualified to conduct and supervise scientific research in psychology or allied sciences. To be eligible for membership, a person must hold the PhD degree or equivalent, and must have published significant research other than the doctoral dissertation.
  3. Eligible persons shall be considered for membership by the Governing Board. Any member may recommend individuals to the Board for its consideration. The Board shall elect those individuals it considers eligible for membership and report their names at the Annual Business Meeting.
  4. An Associate shall be in the field of psychology or an allied science. To become an Associate, the individual must have a PhD or equivalent.
  5. Members in good standing who have retired or have reached age 65, and who have paid annual dues for the previous five years, may request Life Member status. Life Members pay no dues, receive no journal credit, and must pay the registration fee, if any, to attend the annual meeting.

ARTICLE III: GOVERNING BOARD

  1. The Governing Board shall exercise general supervision over the affairs of the Society subject to the provisions of Articles IX and X.
  2. The Governing Board shall consist of twelve members elected for staggered terms of six years each, and, ex-officio, the Secretary-Treasurer of the Society, if the Secretary-Treasurer is not already a member. Elected members of the Governing Board may not succeed themselves.
  3. The Governing Board shall elect its own Chairperson by written, secret ballot. The term of the Chair shall be one year, and the Chair may serve only one term.
  4. The Governing Board shall from time to time appoint such committees as it deems necessary to conduct the affairs of the association.
  5. The Chairperson of the Governing Board shall preside at meetings of the Board and the Annual Business Meeting.
  6. The Governing Board will meet annually to conduct the business and affairs of the Society, and will hold other meetings at a place and time chosen by a majority vote of the Member. Notice of each meeting of the Governing Board shall be given to each Member at least fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting.
  7. Two thirds of the members of the Governing Board present at a Board meeting constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of the Chair, the Immediate Past Chair acts as chair of the Board; in the absence of both the Chair and Immediate Past Chair, the Chair-Elect acts as chair. A two-thirds majority vote of the Members present and voting at a meeting is required to adopt any action or policy of the Board, except as otherwise provided by these Bylaws. A Member who votes to abstain is considered to be present at the meeting but, for the purpose of tallying votes, a vote to abstain is not counted as a vote cast.
  8. Any Member of the Governing Board may participate in either a full Board meeting or an executive session by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other simultaneously during the conversation. Participation by such means constitutes presence in person at a meeting.

ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS

  1. The officers of the Society shall be the Chairperson of the Governing Board, the immediate Past Chairperson of the Governing Board, the Secretary-Treasurer, and the Convention Manager.
  2. The Secretary-Treasurer and Convention Manager shall be elected by the Governing Board. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected for a three-year term, and may be re-elected once, but may not serve more than six consecutive years. The Convention Manager shall be elected for a five-year term, and may be re-elected once, but may not serve more than ten consecutive years. If a person is the Chairperson in the sixth year of his or her term on the Governing Board, that individual will remain on the Governing Board for a seventh year to serve as the immediate Past Chairperson.
  3. The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep a list of the membership of the Society, collect dues, disperse funds with approval of the Governing Board, assemble the annual program, and fulfill other administrative functions for the Society.
  4. The Convention Manager shall provide arrangements to conduct the annual meeting of the Society, and assist the Secretary-Treasurer to assure current and future meetings function as effectively as possible.

ARTICLE V: ELECTIONS

  1. Once each year, the Secretary-Treasurer shall canvas the membership by mail for nominations of persons to serve on the Governing Board. Each member may nominate up to four persons.
  2. The names of the six persons who receive the greatest number of nominations, and who signify their willingness to serve, shall be placed on an election ballot. Voting will be via the Internet and the membership will be notified by e-mail of the opportunity to vote. Each member may vote for two persons named on the ballot. In the case of a tie for nomination or election to the Governing Board, the Chair of the Governing Board shall break the tie after consultation with the Governing Board.
  3. Thirty days after the mailing of the election ballot, the election shall be closed, and the ballots counted. The two persons receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected members of the Governing Board.
  4. In the case of resignation, recall, or death of a member of the Governing Board, the vacancy shall be filled in conformity with Sections 1, 2, and 3 above; that is, six nominations shall be requested, nine names shall be placed on the election ballot, and each member shall vote for three persons. The third ranking candidate shall complete the unfilled term of office, but may serve a successive term.

ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS

  1. The Society shall hold an Annual Scientific Meeting at a time and place selected by the Governing Board.
  2. Any member may present a scientific paper at the Annual Meeting. A nonmember may present a paper when sponsored by a member. However, when the number of papers submitted exceeds those that can be accommodated on the program, preference will be given first to papers submitted and read by members who did not present or sponsor the presentation of a paper in the preceding year, and second to papers to be presented, rather than sponsored, by members of the Society.
  3. An Annual Business Meeting shall be held in conjunction with the Scientific Meeting. Only members of the Society may attend the Annual Business Meeting.
  4. All motions at the Annual Business Meeting require only a simple majority for passage.

ARTICLE VII: PUBLICATIONS

  1. The Society shall publish such programs, abstracts of scientific papers, and membership lists, as the Governing Board shall authorize. With approval of the membership, the Governing Board may undertake the editing or publishing, or both, or scientific journals.

ARTICLE VIII: DUES

  1. The annual dues of membership shall be determined by the membership at the Annual Business Meeting upon recommendation of the Governing Board.
  2. A member failing to pay dues for two consecutive years shall be considered to have resigned, but may be reinstated any time in the three years following upon payment of the current year’s dues plus the preceding year’s dues.*
  3. A member failing to pay dues for five years may be reinstated only by satisfying the requirements for election of new members prescribed in Article II.

ARTICLE IX: RECALL

  1. Upon petition of 10% of the membership, an election by mail ballot will be held on proposals with respect to the recall of members of the Governing Board or the Secretary-Treasurer. Such recall will be effective upon a majority mail vote of all members of the Society, but the recalled member shall continue to serve until replaced in accordance with the election procedure prescribed in Article V.

ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS

  1. Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed by majority action of the Governing Board at a regular, special, or informal meeting called by the Chairperson, or by the affirmative vote of the majority voting at an Annual Business Meeting on a resolution for amendment of the Bylaws introduced from the floor. In the latter case, the proposed amendment of the Bylaws must then be considered by the Governing Board at its next regular, special, or informal meeting.
  2. Every proposed amendment shall be submitted to the membership with recommendations of the majority of the Governing Board, together with a statement of the basis of the recommendations, and in the case of a tie with the arguments pro and con. These Bylaws may then be amended only by vote of the members in either of the following ways, to be determined by the Governing Board: (a) at the Annual Business Meeting of members, by affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members voting on the proposed amendment or (b) by mail vote of members, conducted in such fashion as the Governing Board may determine. Two-thirds affirmative vote of those voting by mail shall be required for adoption of the proposed amendment.

ARTICLE XI: CORPORATE SEAL

  1. The corporate seal of the corporation shall consist of the words “The Psychonomic Society, Inc. Corporate Seal” and may be affixed to any document by writing, typewriting, impression, or other means.

*Dues herein means all sums payable by a member to the Society, including the journal credit, Federation fee, etc. However, only the journal credit for the current year may be used, and that may be used for current year subscriptions only. Foreign members who do not work in the U.S. or in U.S.-supported laboratories are exempt from the Federation fee.